"Spin-off technology" is the term used for those
technologies already developed for defense purposes which
also demonstrate non-defense, commercial applications. The
USASSDC is very actively involved in the transfer of
technologies to other federal agencies, industry, and
academia. The following write-ups present a summary of
several of these transfers and ongoing activities and
agreements.

Neural Net for Cancer Screen. Representing a
milestone in automated image processing, a neural network can
now help discover cervical cancers once routinely missed.
Related to technology developed for BMDO through USASSDC by
HNC Software, Inc., the network is the basis of the PAPNET
Testing System. The PAPNET System is a product of
Neuromedical Systems, Inc., and represents the culmination of
an eight-year effort to improve the existing Pap test.
Powerful and fast neural network algorithms help to quickly
identify the signs of malignancy in cell clusters. With the
PAPNET test, cytology labs can increase the total detection
of abnormalities by up to 30 percent. The system was cleared
for use by the FDA in November 1995 and is being used in more
than 40 U.S. clinics and 15 countries.

HNC developed neural network technology for BMDO through
USASSDC. Neuromedical Systems, which acquired its neural network
developer from HNC, holds a patent for the application of neural
networks.

Acousto Optic Tunable Filters (AOTFs). The Acousto
Optic Tunable Filter (AOTF) is a dual use technology evolving
with BMDO SBIR programs with Ciencia, Inc., of Hartford,
Connecticut. Military applications for the AOTF include
target interrogation sensors for the detection and use of
target discriminants defined by intensity, contrast, and
polarization.

Ciencia's AOTF technologies include: an AOTF-controlled
flow cytometer for the Biological Integrated Detection System
(BIDS) to detect, analyze, and classify battlefield chemical
and biological agents (The BIDS is a U.S. Army Chemical and
Biological Defense Agency program prompted by Operation
Desert Storm); an AOTF-based spectrofluorometer for NASA and
NIH cell culture devices; an AOTF-based lightweight digital
x-ray imager (an Army program); and an AOTF-based on-line
process controller (a DOE program). Ciencia's AOTF is being
used by FMC Corporation for on-line processing of chemicals
and by Sunkist Growers, Inc., for detecting mold on citrus
fruit. New Cienica business will supply Beckman Instruments
with an AOTF for clinical analyzers and CREO Products, a
Canadian-based business, with a specialized AO modulator.
Ciencia is pursuing markets to provide environmental
monitoring and waste management devices.

In addition to the technology developed at Ciencia,
Brimrose Corp. of America, based in Baltimore, has created an
AOTF-based, non-invasive sensor that can measure blood sugar
levels. The work at Brimrose was based on research originally
sponsored by BMDO. They have also developed an AOTF-based
spectrometer that can read changes in the body's calcium
levels to help predict heart attacks and strokes. The device
also has potential for environmental monitoring.

Electronics Technology (A/D Converter). The Sensors
Directorate at the MDSTC is developing high performance 10
and 12 bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) to meet
strategic system requirements for analog signal processing.
The commercial world is benefiting from this research by the
devices being incorporated into applications ranging from
high speed modems, film scanners, medical ultrasound, and
x-ray, plus pro video cameras.

Non-strategic military applications using these ADCs
include F-16 radar upgrade, cameras, and communications. The
ADCs are also used in the Comanche Helicopter FLIR systems.
Potential is high for other defense systems to implement
these devices. Analog Devices receives on a steady basis
inquiries for technical data and engineering samples.

A new product released is a 16-bit digital-to-analog
converter (DAC) that will support the proposed information
Superhighway. This low power, log glitch device will provide
the ability to transmit television video across the telephone
lines.

Electronics Technology (Stacked Chip). Under a
Phase I and Phase II SBIR, Irvine Sensors Corporation (ISC)
developed an integrated chip-stacking technology for infrared
on focal plane arrays (FPA). Further developments under the
Weapons Directorate led to applications in interceptor
technology. The technology, cubing, is a way of building
three-dimensional, monolithic semiconductor devices called
"cubes". The technology is also referred to as a
full stack because it incorporates up to 100 chips bonded
together like a slice of bread. Cubes offer a higher level of
integration, faster processing speeds, and lower power
requirements than current chip technology.

ISC's primary business is the development of infrared
devices and high-density packages for computer electronics
intended to have broad applications in military and
electronics systems. The technology developed under the SBIR
will be further developed through a joint manufacturing and
license agreement between ISC and IBM. The initial agreement
focused on the full stack technology. Since the initial
agreement, Irvine has introduced the first commercial version
of the 3D Memory Short Stack for use in applications with
limited vertical space. Short stacks contain up to ten chips
mounted like a stack of pancakes, and serves as a virtual
memory chip because of its dramatic improvement in capacity
over similar sized single-chip packages. The success of the
short stacks, which offer the same performance benefits as
the full stacks, prompted the expansion of the IBM agreement
to include the short stacks. The joint development work will
take place at both facilities and involve technical employees
from the two companies. The unique strengths of the two
companies will further enhance the technologies for more
compact, powerful, and rugged computing systems. In a
separate application of the chip-stacking technology, Irvine
has signed a $5.2 million BMDO contract to develop a neural
network sensor intended to mimic some of the recognition
capabilities of the human eye and brain. This is the first
phase of a planned development that will eventually lead to
modules with the interconnect densities and speeds of the
human brain.

After the technology was successfully demonstrated, the
Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA) provided funding to
ISC to apply the technology to memory chips. The technology
was successfully demonstrated and IBM formed a partnership
with ISC to develop, produce, and manufacture more compact,
powerful, and rugged computing systems. Under the terms of
the Full Stack agreement, both IBM and Irvine can develop
products and sell them externally. Under the Short Stack
agreement, IBM has agreed to use the Short Stack technology
for internal purposes only, and will also serve as a
manufacturer of the devices for Irvine Sensors.

The Extended Air Defense Simulation (EADSIM). The
arena of theater and tactical C3I has become enormously
complex in recent years. With that complexity has come
increasing difficulty in analyzing C3I and air defense system
effectiveness, determining system impact on combat
operations, and assessing the priority of emerging
operational concepts. EADSIM helps both developers and
potential users of new C3I and extended air defense systems
to quickly, accurately, and inexpensively determine how well
the design or specific employment of a system will fulfill
operational requirements. Basic applications include that of
assessing TMD Architectures, aircraft/cruise missile
defenses, force analyses, operational effectiveness analyses,
and mission area analyses. EADSIM, a government-owned model,
was developed in a joint effort between USASSDC and the U.S.
Army Missile Command (MICOM) as a low-cost, interim analysis
capability to evaluate Extended Air Defense concepts until
the EADTB could be fielded.

The EADSIM Model has been demonstrated in the commercial
sector for use in applications such as drug interdiction
strategies, air traffic control planning, and highway patrol
communications systems. EADSIM has played an important role
in systems and operational analysis by many government
agencies and support contractors and has over 100 registered
users. These users include: U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery
School; PEO, AMD; 32nd Army Air Defense Command; BMDO; JCS,
J8; USAF Studies and Analysis Agency; USAF Joint Electronic
Warfare Command; USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center; Naval
Strike Warfare Command; and NavAir. In addition,
international users include; the United Kingdom Director,
Science (BMD); SHAPE Technical Center in the Hague,
Netherlands; Federal Republic of Germany Ministry of Defense,
Armaments Directorate; and Israeli Ministry of Defense.

HELSTF HELLO Program. In an innovative approach to
technology transfer, USASSDC made the most powerful laser in
the United States located at the High Energy Laser Systems
Test Facility (HELSTF) available to industry, laboratories,
and academic institutions in September 1994. The program,
called the High Energy Laser Light Opportunity (HELLO), was
conducted at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. Twenty-three
experiments were conducted in an assembly-line manner and
provided with standard diagnostics, making continuous
megawatt-class laser light available and affordable for the
first time ever to most researchers. The laser, known as the
Mid-infrared Advanced Chemical Laser (MIRACL), was originally
developed by the U.S. Navy to demonstrate that ships can use
laser to defend themselves against cruise missiles.

The twenty-three experiments were conducted by Phillips
Petroleum, California Institute of Technology, Sandia
National Laboratory, and the Army Research Laboratory (ARL).
The HELLO generated two CRDAs with Phillips Petroleum and
California Institute of Technology and additional experiments
by Sandia and ARL. Potential spinoffs from the experiments
include future manufacturing processes for hardening surface
properties by changing crystal structures with high power
lasers. This technology may improve the manufacturing of
hardened machine parts. Another spinoff potential is the use
of lasers for oil exploration. This concept has tremendous
potential for increasing future oil and gas reserves by
allowing for significant improvements in oil exploration
techniques and drilling processes.

In order to increase its flexibility and responsiveness to
its customers, HELSTF expanded the HELLO program in August
1995 from one test to an ongoing series of tests. Instead of
a specific date, HELLO will now be an open-ended invitation.

Rapid Manufacturing Of Carbon/Carbon Composites. Carbon-carbon
composites are materials that maintain high strength at
elevated temperatures and have high thermal conductivities.
These properties make this material ideal for use in aircraft
brakes. Based on the number of kilograms of carbon-carbon
material sold, this application represents over 90% of the
market. Previous processing methods were expensive and
required long periods of time to achieve a desired structure.

Under a Phase II BMDO SBIR contract managed by the
USASSDC, Sioux Manufacturing Corporation is developing a
process for manufacturing carbon-carbon composites. The
objective of this effort is to reduce both fabrication time
and cost. A preform of carbon fibers is placed in contact
with the ferrofluid catalyst and set in a furnace at elevated
temperatures. The methane reacts to form additional carbon
depositions on the surface of the carbon fibers. Phase I
experiments demonstrated that the rate of mass gain was
enhanced by at least an order of magnitude on small
laboratory-scale samples. As a result of the increased rate
of reaction, more parts can be produced in a given time using
fewer production furnaces, which results in lower capital
costs.

The Phase II effort scales the processing technique to a
pilot plant level for the fabrication of aircraft brake
components. This effort is accomplished with BFGoodrich
Supertemp as the primary commercialization partner. If the
scale-up of this process is successful, i.e., the desired
strength and thermal properties are achieved in less time
than current fabrication techniques, then a license agreement
will be negotiated to transfer this technology to BFGoodrich.

This is an excellent example of a dual-use technology with
synergistic applications. Defense applications include
missile nose tips, exhaust exit nozzles, and improved brakes
(good friction characteristics at reduced manufacturing cost)
for military aircraft. Commercial applications are targeted
toward airlines and replacement brakes for standard
commercial aircraft. In addition, an emerging use is for
thermal doublers on circuit boards to hold high density
electronic equipment.